Thursday Trader's Tip: You vs. Yourself
Thursday Trader's Tip editions offer quick trading psychology advice that can be digested in 5 minutes.
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We’ll dive into:
Processes and routines
Belief systems and perspectives
Trade management and other technical aspects
In the first 45 minutes, we’ll dive into the theory; in the last 15 minutes, we will do Q&A and idea sharing. Secure your spot here.
Watch this edition video at the end of the post.
What happens when you can’t help but make a trading mistake—exiting too early, adjusting stops, hesitating, or taking that impulsive trade?
It’s not just a mistake. It’s a tug-of-war between two conflicting parts of you:
The part that knows what you should do.
The “monkey mind” that’s fighting for your survival—though certainly not in the market.
Your monkey mind has rules. There are things it’s okay with and others it deems absolutely unacceptable.
What’s “unacceptable” for you? That was shaped long ago, likely in your early years, and it’s been influencing your behaviors ever since.
For some, feeling inadequate is intolerable.
For others, it’s incompetence.
And for many, it’s the fear of embarrassment.
You’ve built a life avoiding situations that trigger these feelings.
The person who can’t stand embarrassment? They will avoid public speaking.
The one intolerant of incompetence? They thrive on quick decisions and problem-solving but struggle in situations that require patience.
These deeply ingrained patterns don’t disappear when you sit at the trading desk. You bring them with you.
Take chasing a move, for example. It’s not about the move itself. Deep down, you know there are always more opportunities. What you’re really trying to avoid is the feeling—that sense of incompetence or unworthiness. Missing out scratches at your identity in a way you just can’t stand.
As Van Tharp wisely said:
"You do not trade the markets. You can only trade your beliefs about the markets."
I see this play out again and again in my work with traders. These inner conflicts create loops of self-sabotage.
If you’re ready to work on these deeper patterns, my 1:1 coaching program is designed to reshape your perception at an identity level for lasting change. Learn more here.
For now, let me leave you with a challenge:
The next time you find yourself in a tough emotional spot during a trading session, pause and ask yourself:
What emotion am I trying to escape?
Exiting a winner too early might show the obvious fear of loss, but what does it say about you?
Hesitating to pull the trigger? Fear of making a mistake… but how do you perceive mistakes?
Trading out of boredom? Discomfort with doing nothing. What were you taught about doing nothing or being slow?
Then dig deeper: What is it about this emotion that feels so unbearable?
That’s the feeling you need to sit with to grow as a trader.
Real change happens when you create new emotional experiences.
When you recognize that your reactions are rooted in past experiences, not the market itself, you stop seeing market events as a personal threat and begin to see the market as it truly is.
… And that’s what makes for detached trading.
Peaceful trading,
Sara
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This is a great post!
Such a great post, Sara. Love how you framed our beliefs that transpire in the market.